Rural Finance Specialist

Rome

Organization: FAO - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Location: Rome
Grade: Level not specified - Level not specified
Occupational Groups:
- Operations and Administrations
- Banking and Finance
- SOCIAL POLICIES AND RURAL INSTITUTIONS DIVISION, ESP
Closing Date: Closed

IMPORTANT NOTICE\: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on your personal device date and time settings

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FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender and nationality

People with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply

All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality

The incumbent may be re-assigned to different activities and/or duty stations depending on the evolving needs of the Organization

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Organizational Setting

The Social Policies and Rural Institutions Division (ESP) coordinates FAO’s work on social protection, gender equality, decent rural employment, rural institutions and people’s empowerment. It is responsible for working with member countries and other partners to reduce rural poverty through strengthening social protection systems, diversifying rural employment opportunities, reducing gender gaps and other social inequalities in agriculture, strengthening producer organizations and improving the rural poor’s access to productive resources and rural services.

Within ESP, the Rural Institutions, Services and Empowerment (RISE) Team works to promote inclusive rural institutions and effective service systems to create an enabling environment for rural people to actively participate and seize opportunities to improve their livelihoods in a sustainable manner. The Team supports countries in applying territorial approaches in policy making and development planning; promoting pluralistic rural services and financial systems; strengthening producer organizations and improving the rural poor’s access to productive resources and rural services, including rural financial services and investment capital.

The Team’s work on Rural Finance aims to support the development of efficient, sustainable and inclusive rural and agricultural financial systems for smallholder agricultural households and micro-, small- and medium-sized agribusiness enterprises globally, through addressing the supply and demand side constraints and capacity needs. The team takes a holistic, financial systems level approach and through its evidence-based portfolio of policy research and support; technical assistance to field projects; capacity building and training; and its position as a neutral facilitator of knowledge exchange and cooperation between countries and development partners, it promotes the development of enabling policy and regulatory frameworks; meso-level support institutions and risk-sharing mechanisms; and institution-level capacity building to improve and expand the provision of rural financial services for the rural poor, with a particular emphasis on women, youth and other traditionally excluded groups.

FAO International Consultants and Call purpose

The Organization frequently engages experts to work on short-term projects as international consultants. The functions of a consultant are results-oriented. An international consultant is engaged by the Organization to provide expertise, skills or knowledge for the performance of a specific task or piece of work. The assignment may involve full-time or part-time functions carried out over a period of 1 month up to 11 months, on a When-Actually-Employed (WAE) basis. The possibility of extension is subject to satisfactory performance and depending on the resources and needs of the Organization.

The purpose of this Call is to attract qualified candidates for consultancies in the area of Rural Finance to populate the divisional roster for this profile with candidates who satisfactorily meet or exceed the requirements of the Call. Candidates who are registered in the Roster will be considered for future contracts when relevant opportunities arise.

Reporting Lines

The consultant will be under the overall guidance of the Director of ESP, the direct supervision of the RISE Team Leader, and the direct technical supervision of the Rural Finance Officer.

Technical Focus

The incumbent is expected to support the implementation of the Rural Finance programme that includes\: (i) provision of technical support to relevant FAO field programmes; (ii) production of policy research, analysis, operational guidelines and other knowledge products; and (iii) the development and delivery of capacity building interventions at the global, regional and country-levels. The work focuses on rural and agricultural financial systems and tools; financial inclusion and innovation in providing services to rural communities and farmers within the context of inclusive rural and agricultural development policies and strategies; insurance and risk management systems, strategies and tools for sustainable rural livelihoods and agri-food development.

Tasks and responsibilities for level B and C consultants and PSAs

Research and analyse technical, social, economic and institutional related information, data and/or related policy issues to support the delivery of programme projects, products and services.
Produce a variety of technical information, data and reports as well as input for technical documents and web pages.
Provide technical support/ analysis to various assessments, studies and initiatives and provides technical inputs to field projects.
Contribute to the development of improved/updated tools, systems, processes, and databases.
Participate in multi-disciplinary teams, and collaborates with other FAO units and partner agencies and promotes best practices.
Contribute to the design and delivery of capacity development activities, including the development of the curricula, preparation of related information, learning materials, on-line tools.
Promote knowledge sharing and best practices through various tools and fora.